National Cathedral behind the scenes, age 11 and older, see gargoyles and stained-glass windows and climb stairs for a panoramic view of the city. Bring a camera. 10:30 a.m. weekdays, Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. $25; ages 11-12, $21. 202-537-6200 or www.nationalcathedral.org .

Grains of wisdom: botany, evolution and the history of cereal crops, science education volunteer Todd Brethauer discusses how humans have used the various members of the grass family and how they have changed the plants over thousands of years. Noon, U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Free; registration required. 202-225-8333. www.usbg.gov .

Portraits Alive! D.C., Virginia and Maryland teens lead a theatrical tour that brings the Portrait Gallery’s collection to life through original student-written portrayals of the people represented in various photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures or prints. Noon and 2 p.m. Thursday-Friday, National Portrait Gallery, F Street Lobby, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Victory garden tour, a horticulturist leads a tour of the garden and discusses some of the vegetables and flowers in the museum’s re-created WWII-era Victory garden. 1 p.m. Thursday and Aug. 21, National Museum of American History, Welcome Desk, Constitution Avenue entrance, first floor, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Memorials on the Mall, a National Park Service ranger leads a walking tour of a selection of memorials. 2-4 p.m. daily through Aug. 31, Lincoln Memorial, 23rd Street NW and West Potomac Park. Free. 202-426-6841.

“Hope,” a film about record-setting cyclist Maria Parker’s fight against her sister’s terminal brain cancer by taking on a 3,000-mile race across the continent, proceeds go to 3000 Miles to a Cure and its partnership with Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. 8:15 p.m., Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St. NW. $35. 202-289-1200. www.dchopescreening.splashthat.com .

U.S. Army Band concert, the Downrange ensemble performs a combination of pop, rock and patriotic music. 8 p.m., U.S. Capitol, west steps. Free. 703-696-3399.

“Rudy,” David Anspaugh’s 1993 film about a boy who defies his worst critics by getting into Notre Dame, getting on coach Ara Parseghian’s team and getting his one shot at gridiron glory, starring Sean Astin and Jon Favreau. 8:30 p.m., Canal Park, Second and M streets SE. Free. www.capitolriverfront.org .

“A Five Star Life ,” a film about a woman whose job takes her to some of the most stunning cities and opulent hotels, acting as an undercover hotel critic until an unexpected life change upsets her lifestyle, in Italian with English subtitles. 11 a.m., 1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 8 p.m., Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. $11.50; students, $9; seniors, $8.75; military and age 12 and younger, $8.50. 202-966-6000.

U.S. Air Force band concert, the Concert Band performs. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Helping Our People Engage, in the spirit of revitalizing the historic cinema theaters of Anacostia, such as the Carver, Anacostia, Naylor and Congress theaters, the Anacostia Neighborhood Library presents weekly movie matinees on Friday mornings, a discussion group follows. 11:30 a.m., Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Free. 202-715-7707 or 202-715-7708.

“The Nixon Tapes ,” historian Douglas Brinkley and co-author Luke Nichter discuss their book containing the captured words of President Richard M. Nixon as he spoke them in key White House and Camp David discussions between 1971 and 1973 on a voice-activated taping system; view Nixon’s resignation letter and President Gerald R. Ford’s pardon of Nixon on display in the East Rotunda Gallery from Aug. 8 to 11. Noon, National Archives, McGowan Theater, Constitution Avenue and Ninth Street NW. Free. 202-357-5000.

“The Hundred-Foot Journey ,” a film about a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch, displaced with his Indian family to a quaint village in the south of France and on the brink of opening an Indian restaurant that rivals an already established Michelin-starred restaurant, starring Helen Mirren, Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal. 11:30 a.m. and 2:15, 5 and 8 p.m. daily through Aug. 14. Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. $11.50; students, $9; seniors, $8.75; military and age 12 and younger, $8.50. 202-966-6000.

“The Ugly Duckling,” performed by Bright Star Theatre, a young duck is bullied until a miraculous transformation turns her into a beautiful swan. 9:30 and 11 a.m., National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Free ticket, one per person, distributed 30 minutes before each show. 202-783-3372.

Let’s talk photography, a presentation and discussion about macro photography, learn about the kinds of equipment used to make close-up images, lighting for macro images and techniques used to help create those images. 10 a.m., West End Interim Library, 2522 Virginia Ave. NW. Free. 202-724-8698.

Children’s film, “Getting to Know Degas and Cassatt,” for age 4 and older, two animated films about the artists based on Mike Venezia’s “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists ” books. 11 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday, National Gallery of Art, West Building Lecture Hall, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-789-3030.

Cemetery tours, a docent leads a tour of the cemetery that provides a final resting place for John Philip Sousa and other famous people. 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Nov. 1, Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. Free. 202-543-0539. www.congressionalcemetery.org .

Haiku workshop, Pamela Perkins leads an hour of learning about and writing haiku, followed by readings and a contest, bring a small piece of nature, a rock or a leaf or a picture of nature that inspires you. 1 p.m., Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. Free. 202-724-4752.

Guided bike ride, about three hours, led by a National Park Service ranger, with stops to discuss moments in American history; bring your bike, water and snacks; helmets required. 2-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, 900 Ohio Dr. SW. Free. 202-426-6841.

Blues in the park, a performance by Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band. 7 p.m., Fort Dupont Park, 3600 F St. SE. Free. 202-426-7723 or www.nps.gov .

Dance concert, the annual New Releases Choreographers Showcase with new works by established and emerging choreographers and performances by Akosua Akoto, Katie Sopoci Drake and others. 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. $25; seniors and artists, $20; college students and age 17 and younger, $15. 202-269-1600 or www.danceplace.org .

Computer basics, a four-week series of workshops for beginners to learn how to use a mouse and keyboard, navigate the Internet and use e-mail; curriculum and training provided by ByteBack. 1 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 24, Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. Free; registration required. 202-529-3395.

Family MESS, for ages 3-12 to learn about math, engineering and science in the world around them through experiments, building and other activities; parental/caregiver participation encouraged. 1 p.m., William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW. Free. 202-243-1184.

Summer steps with Step Afrika! students perform with Step Afrika!, the nation’s leading professional touring step troupe. 2 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Free. 202-272-2448 or www.nbm.org .

Forged in fire: Cathedral ironwork tour, a docent shows the magic of wrought iron in fantastic creatures, flowers and other creations. 3 p.m., Washington National Cathedral, welcome desk at main visitor entrance, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. $20; children, seniors, military and students $16; reservations suggested. 202-537-6200 or www.nationalcathedral.org .

Extreme life of the sea, marine biologist Stephen Palumbi and novelist and technology writer Anthony Palumbi discuss their dive to the limits of the aquatic world to see the fastest and deepest, the hottest and oldest creatures of the oceans, from marlins that swim and feed at 40 mph to corals that live for more than 4,000 years, a question-and-answer session follows. 3 p.m., National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Smooth jazz and Scrabble, relax to the sounds of many different artists. 3-5 p.m., William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library, Lounge in the Main Meeting Room, 115 Atlantic St. SW. Free. 202-243-1184.

Liberators of Latin America, a National Park Service ranger leads a walking tour and discusses the revolutionary ideas that link the memorials to the liberators of Latin America. 3-6 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 31, Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station, 2301 I St. NW. Free. Mike Balis, 202-438-9710.

Board games in the afternoon, for age 10 and older, play board games with your friends or learn to play chess. 3 p.m. Sundays, Northwest One Library, 155 L St. NW. Free. 202-939-5946.

Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra concert, some of the best high school and college jazz musicians in the greater Philadelphia and New Jersey regions perform. 6 p.m., Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

Yoga at West End, Smita Kumar from Yoga District teaches a weekly class, bring a mat or use one of the library’s. 12:30 p.m. Mondays, West End Interim Library, 2522 Virginia Ave. NW. Free; registration required: teresa.sakon@dc.gov or 202-724-8698.

Cardinal Sons in concert, the New Orleans indie rock band of three brothers performs a mix of folk and pop music. 6 p.m., Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

“The Children’s Hour ,” William Wyler’s 1961 film about how a malicious child’s lie can destroy the lives of her private school teachers, starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, Miriam Hopkins and James Garner. 6:30 p.m., National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Free ticket, one per person, distributed 30 minutes before each show. 202-783-3372.

Conversation with Michael Kaiser, Rebecca Sheir, host of WAMU’s Metro Connection, talks with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts president, two weeks prior to his departure to run the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland. 7 p.m., Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Free; registration requested. www.hillcenterdc.org or 202-549-4172.

Sundance Trio in concert, a performance of music for solo wind instruments. 12:10 p.m., Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. Suggested donation, $10. 202-347-2635, Ext. 20.

Cathedral tour and tea, a docent-led tour of the highlights of the cathedral, its history, architecture and artworks — plus a traditional English tea and a scenic view of the city from the cathedral tower. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Washington National Cathedral, Docent Station at the Rear Nave, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. $30; reservations required. 202-537-8993, www.allhallowsguild.org or e-mail misbister@cathedral.org .

Courtyard garden tour, horticulturists from Smithsonian Gardens lead a tour of the interior plantscape of the Kogod Courtyard and discuss the plant selection for this indoor space and how it is designed and maintained, get some tricks of the trade and watch a plant-care demonstration. Smithsonian American Art Museum, G Street Lobby, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Sketching workshop, bring pencils and a small sketchbook, work with objects on display in the center. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Hook and needle club, for ages 10-19 who want to learn how to knit or crochet, all experience levels welcome, yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks provided. 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and the second Tuesday of every month, Northwest One Library, 155 L St. NW. Free. 202-939-5946.

HIV/STI screening, for teens and young adults, ages 13-24, by Metro TeenAIDS, with information on how to live a healthy life. 4 p.m., Anacostia Library, Meeting Room 2, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Free. 202-715-7707 or 202-715-7708.

Holy icons of Medieval Russia: reawakening to a spiritual past, Scott Ruby, associate curator of Russian and Eastern European art at Hillwood Museum, discusses how the appreciation and understanding of medieval icons developed, as well as some of the aspects of medieval iconography that differentiate it from the work of later centuries, looks at some of the superlative icons of Andre Rublev, a Russian monk who some consider the greatest icon painter and discusses how icons function in the context of public and private devotions. 6:45-8:15 p.m., S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. $25. 202-633-3030. www.smithsonianassociates.org.

Temporary tattoos, for ages 12-19, create your own tattoos that will stay on your skin for three to four days using eyeliner and bandage spray, earn a “crafty” badge. 10 a.m., Northwest One Library, 155 L St. NW. Free. 202-939-5946.

Art talk, digital media specialist Laura Hoffman leads a conversation about a video by artist Margaret Salmon. Noon-12:30 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Free. 202-783-5000.

Persian book in pre-modern Turkey, a lecture by the University of Maryland’s Ahmet Karamustafa. Noon, Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division Reading Room, Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Free. 202-707-4518.

Bereavement support, for persons who have lost a spouse in the past two years, sponsored by Sibley Senior Association. 2-3:30 p.m., Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. Free; registration required. 202-364-7602.

Handwriting analysis, view the exhibit “Making Their Mark” and learn the basics of handwriting analysis from Edda Manley, see what you discover about a person from the mark they make. 5:30-7:30 p.m., National Archives, Boeing Learning Center, Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street NW. Free. 202-357-5000.

Theatrical program, members of the Synetic Theatre’s Summer Camp perform an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz,” using mime, pantomime and acrobatics with original songs and dance. 6 p.m., Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

Foster care information, make a difference in a child’s life by providing a safe, nurturing home for children or teens who are temporarily separated from their families through no fault of their own, ideal for those who wish to become foster or resource parents. 6:30 p.m., Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. Free. 202-645-0755.

“Burning Bush ,” Agnieszka Holland’s film that returns to a pivotal time in modern Czech history, a reconstruction of the shocking act of a Czech university student, who in protest of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, set himself on fire in Prague’s Wenceslas Square on Jan. 16, 1969, and died four days later, bringing about mass protests during the student’s funeral, in Czech with English subtitles. 6:45 p.m., Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. $11.50; students, $9; seniors, $8.75; military and age 12 and younger, $8.50. 202-966-6000.

75 Years on the Yellow Brick Road: Things You Likely Never Knew About “The Wizard Of Oz,” Michael Patrick Hearn discusses his great friend Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch, revealing many of the behind-the-scenes secrets she told him, and little-known facts found in the MGM files owned by Turner Entertainment. 6:45-8:45 p.m., National Museum of American History, Warner Bros. Theater, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. $42. 202-633-3030. www.smithsonianassociates.org .

How to live to be 100, internal medicine physician John Whyte discusses seven strategies for increasing your chances of living longer, explains the role that blood tests and CT and MRI scans play in predicting how long you will live, whether drinking red wine or eating chocolate make a difference and more. 6:45-8:45 p.m., S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. $42. 202-633-3030 or www.smithsonianassociates.org .

Mystery thriller book club, a librarian leads a discussion of William Landay’s novel “Defending Jacob ,” the story of a suburban Massachusetts district attorney who is blindsided by his 14-year-old son’s arrest for the murder of a fellow student. 7 p.m., Northeast Library, 330 Seventh St. NE. Free. 202-698-3320.

U.S. Marine Band concert, 8 p.m., U.S. Capitol, west terrace. Free. 202-433-4011.

U.S. Air Force Band concert, the band and Singing Sergeants perform “How Can I Keep from Singing.” 8 p.m., Sylvan Theater, on the Washington Monument grounds near 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW. Free. 202-767-5658.

Thursday, August 14

Inside diplomacy, a retired ambassador brings a chief-of-mission’s work to life, discussing how our embassy system works, taking a closer look at the life of a U.S. ambassador, how an aspiring diplomat becomes an ambassador, their duties, how they handle potential threats and dangers abroad and more; members of the Foreign Service Institute discuss how they provide diplomats and staff members the practical tools to navigate the worlds of domestic politics and foreign affairs. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Foreign Service Association, 2101 E St NW. $135. 202-633-3030. www.smithsonianassociates.org .

American art: after and before, conservators discuss a featured artwork after it has received treatment, continue on to the Lunder Conservation Center for a behind-the-scenes look at the way the museum’s conservation staff apply science, art history and skilled hands to artworks before they are unveiled in exhibition spaces. 1 p.m., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Lobby, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

“Pina ,” director Wim Wenders’s 2011 film about modernist choreographer Pina Bausch who died suddenly in 2009 as he was filming her, a groundbreaking visionary whose cogent and compelling work with Tanztheater Wuppertal transformed the history of dance as she believed in blending the formal vocabularies of theater, dance, sound and design, sponsored by the National Gallery of Art. 7 p.m., National Archives, McGowan Theater, Constitution Avenue and Ninth Street NW. Free. 202-357-5000.

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ,” read Hunter S. Thompson’s book about an oddball journalist and his attorney’s trip to Las Vegas, discuss the book with others and see the film that stars Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire and Ellen Barkin. 7 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Room 207, 901 G St. NW. Free. 202-727-0321.

Energize D.C., a representative from Pepco discusses how to take control of your energy use and gives simple and helpful ideas to help save money and energy. 7 p.m., Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. Free. 202-243-1188. www.takecontroldc.com .

Civil War medicine, Kyle Wichtendahl, National Museum of Civil War Medicine, discusses the challenges faced by doctors and nurses and the innovations that led to modern military medical systems. 7 p.m., Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free. 202-282-3080.

“A League of Their Own ,” director Penny Marshall’s 1992 comedy film about a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, all underdogs who eventually get the team to the World Series, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Jon Lovitz and Rosie O’Donnell. 8:30 p.m., Canal Park, Second and M streets SE. Free. www.capitolriverfront.org .

— Compiled by Gerri Marmer

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